NJ LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD 2020-2021 - OUR WATER, OUR HEALTH, OUR FUTURE - CleanWaterAction.org/NJscorecard2021 - Insider NJ
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NJ LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD
2020–2021
CleanWaterAction.org/NJscorecard2021
OUR WATER, OUR HEALTH, OUR FUTURE
CLEAN WATER ACTION’S
TA B LE O F CO NTENTS
New Jersey Executive Summary......................................3
Legislative
Progress in Challenging Times.....................3
Priorities that Still Require Action...............5
Democracy................................................... 6
Scorecard
Champions....................................................7
Conclusion.................................................... 9
Bill Descriptions..........................................10
2020–2021 Vote Charts.................................................. 12
Clean Water Action’s New Jersey Legislative Scorecard 2020–2021 scores every New Jersey state legislator on
votes, action and leadership on significant environmental activity (bills, funding, appointments) between
December 2019 – September 2021. The full report is available at www.CleanWaterAction.org/NJscorecard2021.
Four previous scorecards, including individual ratings produced by Clean Water Action for the years 2010
through 2019 can be viewed at www.CleanWaterAction.org/NJscorecard2021.
TAKE ACTION!
We encourage everyone to praise those legislators who stood up for public health and the environment and call
on all legislators to Vote Environment now and in the future. Contact your legislators by visiting our website at:
www.CleanWaterAction.org/NJscorecard2021.
SCORECARD COMMITTEE
Amy Goldsmith, NJ State Director
Eric Benson, NJ Campaign Director
Janet Tauro, NJ Board Chair
Ben Forest, NJ Vote Environment Committee Chair
Michael Kelly, National Communications Director
Jenny Vickers Chyb, National Communications Manager
David Pringle, Pringle Associates LLC
Kerry Doyle, Community Organizer
Published October 26, 2021. Available at www.CleanWaterAction.org/NJscorecard2021
Since our founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action
has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented
thinking and people power to the table. www.cleanwater.org/nj.
198 Brighton Avenue, Long Branch, NJ 07740
Phone: 732-963-9714 | njcwa@cleanwater.org | www.cleanwateraction.org/nj
Clean Water Action | 2020-21 NJ Legislative Scorecard 2
Executive Summary: The world looked very different when Clean Water Action last assessed the New Jersey legislature two years ago. Since then, New Jersey has faced multiple catastrophes, taking one of the earliest and hardest hits of the pandemic and the devastation of Hurricane Ida. The climate emergency, as well as racial and democratic crises, have accelerated. Urgent action is needed now to create a healthier future for New Jersey families and generations to come. In the face of these crises, the New Jersey legislature has risen to the challenge, passing nearly a dozen major pro-environment laws which include national models like the landmark Environmental Justice Law. Eight of these laws were highlighted as “stalled” in Clean Water Action’s 2019 Scorecard, making their passage all the more noteworthy. This scorecard identifies the 16 most environmentally significant bills the legislature considered in the past two years. The pro-environment position succeeded 11 times and failed twice, while 3 bills are still pending. A majority of Democrats took the pro-environment position most of the time while a majority of Republicans took the anti-environment position at a similar rate. Despite this progress, there is still much to be done. The legislature must get the three stalled bills, Clean Energy Equity, the Green Amendment, and Recycled Content, across the finish line. The state must also stop underfunding clean energy and mass transit. Most critically, the legislature must work with the governor’s office to mount a response to the climate crisis that meets the urgency of the moment. The torrential rains of Ida are only the beginning, and New Jersey must confront the crisis as soon as the legislature returns in November, to ensure a livable future. Additionally, while the governor and legislature did significantly expand voting opportunities in response to COVID, there are still many pro-democracy reforms that need to be made in New Jersey. Party line primary ballots, problematic redistricting, and legislative practices that stifle public engagement all alienate too many New Jerseyans, and public policy suffers. At a time when some states are shrinking access to the ballot box, New Jersey has an opportunity to lead the way and expand public participation. This scorecard also highlights the leadership of legislators who fight for clean air, clean water, and a sustainable future. Sadly, two of the state’s biggest environmental champions, Senators Kip Bateman (R-Somerset) and Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) are retiring. Tackling the environmental and social justice challenges confronting New Jersey will require the leadership of the legislative champions highlighted in this scorecard, both old and new. Progress in Challenging Times: Stalled Bills Now Law In 2019, Clean Water Action gave the legislature a failing grade for leaving too many good bills stranded in committees, languishing in wait for a floor vote, or saddled with terrible amendments. The good news? Since then, the legislature has passed most of those bills! In a year of bad news, here is some very good news. Environmental Justice Law (S232/A2212) This bill, the strongest of its kind in the nation, is a triumph that found its way to passage via the unique events of 2020. The knowledge that covid was disproportionately killing residents of historically overburdened and polluted communities coupled with the summer of nationwide activism for black lives got this bill, first introduced in 2008, across the finish line. It directs the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to deny or condition certain permits due to cumulative, disproportionate impacts of pollution in environmental justice communities. Clean Water Action and its allies worked continued on next page Clean Water Action | 2020-21 NJ Legislative Scorecard 3
continued from previous page for decades to ensure this bill became law. Senators Loretta Weinberg, Theresa Ruiz, and Ron Rice, Assemblyman John McKeon, and especially Senator Troy Singleton led the way in finally securing the bill’s passage. Lead Service Line Replacement Law (S3398/A5343) In the 2018-2019 session, there were more than 40 bills related to lead that were proposed, but only a minor one became law, despite the threat lead poses in drinking water. This session, several bills addressing lead in water became law. This bill, the most significant of the bunch, mandates that water providers inventory all of their lead service lines within a year, requires replacement of them within 10 years, and spreads the costs across their entire rate base rather than leaving individual property owners on the hook. Bag Ban Law (S864/A1978) In 2018, Governor Murphy rightfully vetoed a plastic bag fee bill because it would not meaningfully address the problem of plastic bags clogging water infrastructure and polluting streams and coastlines. Clean Water Action supported his veto and called on the legislature to pass a stronger response to plastic pollution in its 2019 Scorecard. This term, the legislature responded by passing this bill, the strongest law in the nation to reduce single-use waste. The legislation bans single-use plastic carryout bags and polystyrene foam food service ware, allows plastic straws only on request, and phases out paper bags at large grocery stores. Food Waste Law (S865/A2371) This law requires large scale food waste generators such as prisons, restaurants, university dining halls, and grocery stores to separate their food waste and send it to an authorized composting facility. As noted in the 2019 Scorecard, the legislature had passed a version of the bill last session that included massive loopholes allowing food waste to continue to be sent to landfills and incinerators. Governor Murphy rightly vetoed that version. In the 2020-2021 session, the bill passed with the exemptions removed. Electric Vehicles Law (S2252/A4819) In the 2019 Scorecard, Clean Water Action highlighted the plight of this bill, which would increase the use of electric vehicles, because it was stuck in committee. After a final push in the final days of the lame duck session in early 2020, this bill finally came to a floor vote, passed, and was signed by Governor Murphy. The law establishes a rebate program for the purchase of passenger electric vehicles and directs NJ Transit to transition its entire fleet to zero-emission buses. Measuring Climate Impacts Law (S3215/A4606) As of the publication of the 2019 Scorecard, this bill was stalled in the legislature, but it finally passed at the end of the lame duck session. It requires all state agencies to use a 20-year time horizon in addition to a 100-year horizon to more accurately calculate the global warming potential of greenhouse gas emissions. In particular, the shorter timeline better documents the need for drastic reductions in methane and black carbon, which are much more potent climate pollutants than CO2 emissions in the short term. Millionaire’s Tax (S2949/A10) The Democratic-controlled legislature passed versions of a Millionaire’s Tax for years under Governor Christie knowing he would never sign it. Clean Water Action noted in the 2019 Scorecard that once Governor Murphy took office, the Democratic legislative leadership stopped passing this tax increase on the state’s wealthiest despite pressing needs in our state budget continuing to go underfunded including water infrastructure, clean energy, and mass transit. In the fall of 2020, the legislature finally agreed to send a tax increase on incomes of over $1 million to the governor’s desk. The state is estimated to collect an additional $390 million in the first year, and it is a step towards ensuring that the state’s wealthiest residents pay their fair share. Clean Water Action | 2020-21 NJ Legislative Scorecard 4
Still Stuck: Priorities That Still Require Action While it is great that so many of Clean Water Action’s stalled 2019 priorities have finally passed, it should not require years of struggle and a singularly unique political climate to finally see the light of day. Passage of bills to protect public health, ensure that New Jersey residents drink clean water, fight the climate crisis, and prevent environmental injustice should be prioritized and more routine, starting with finishing the job on the following legislative priorities this term: Clean Energy Equity Bill (S2484/A4185) While many of the state’s clean energy and climate incentives programs benefit primarily wealthier residents and communities who have the property and the capital to install home solar systems or purchase an electric vehicle, this bill is designed to bring the benefits of clean energy to those New Jersey residents who may not own a suitable roof on which to install solar but who disproportionately suffer the impacts of dirty energy generation. Passed by the Senate and awaiting action in the Assembly, it requires the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to enhance community and on site solar, energy storage, and energy efficiency programs that benefit low income households in overburdened communities. The bill would also create and fund programs to recruit and train at least 2,500 individuals from overburdened communities to join the clean energy paid workforce. Green Constitutional Amendment (SCR30/ACR80) Too often our environmental laws are designed to manage pollution, not prevent it. Drinking water free of contamination and breathing clean air should not come second to the interests of large, well funded, politically connected polluters. The Green Amendment would level the playing field by amending the state constitution to recognize and protect the rights of all the people of the state, including future generations, to pure water, clean air, a stable climate, and a healthy environment. In particular, a Green Amendment could be a valuable tool for ensuring environmental justice as all residents of New Jersey would be granted these rights, regardless of their zip code. Passage before August 2022 would put the question of whether to amend the state constitution to include the Green Amendment onto the November 2022 ballot. Recycled Content Bill (S2515/A4676) This bill is the necessary next step to reduce single-use plastic pollution and waste. For decades, the plastic pollution crisis has continued to grow because it has been cheaper for manufacturers to use virgin plastics from newly extracted fossil fuels than to use recycled material. By requiring manufacturers to use post- consumer recycled materials, this bill will help strengthen the market for recyclables and help keep new fossil fuel-derived plastics out of the waste stream. New Jersey will be one of only a handful of states to pass a recycled content bill and will help set the standard for recycling across the entire northeast. The bill passed the Senate and awaits action by the Assembly. Fully Funding Clean Energy and Mass Transit After initially thinking that the pandemic would blow a hole into New Jersey’s budget, the legislature was instead handed a $10 billion surplus. This was due to higher than expected revenue from state taxes, federal stimulus dollars, and a massive bond. Even then, the legislature opted to continue raiding the funds intended for critical investments in clean energy and mass transit when it needed to fully fund both instead. Beyond these specific concerns, the entire budget process is flawed. Long term budgeting and planning could result in more efficient and effective financing of state programs, as well as allow the legislature to tackle larger scale problems, like NJ Transit, more thoughtfully. Clean Water Action | 2020-21 NJ Legislative Scorecard 5
Democracy: Accessible and Representative Our democracy was in need of protection and strengthening even before the “Big Lie” and the crisis of the January 6 insurrection. While the state’s rapid expansion of vote by mail, ballot drop boxes, and early voting during the pandemic were all welcome developments, there are still structural issues in the way democracy functions in New Jersey that privilege insiders and party bosses over average residents, voters, and community groups. Improving Transparency A case example of the democratic process gone wrong was the swift introduction and passage of the Corporate Welfare Act of 2020 (S3295/A4) with no meaningful opportunity for public or even legislative input and scrutiny. New Jersey chronically underfunds critical clean energy, drinking water, and mass transit systems; but the state still managed to find billions of dollars for corporate giveaways. Not only was the public not afforded the bill language before the hearing, legislators weren’t either, and they voted on amendments that weren’t even drafted yet. The bill, hundreds of pages long, passed in less than a week during the busy holiday season. When our government cuts the public out of large scale decisions, it discourages the public from participating in democracy. Clean Water Action demands that all legislators, the press, and the public be given sufficient time to read, digest, and comment on legislation before it is passed. Additionally, we support making permanent some of the “temporary” accommodations enacted in response to the pandemic such as live video feeds of committee hearings and floor debates and the option for residents to testify over Zoom rather than in person. Ending Party-Line Ballot Design New Jersey is the only state in the country with party-line ballot design. This allows unelected party leaders to place their preferred candidates in easy to locate areas of a primary ballot while burying all challengers. With many districts in New Jersey essentially under single party control, party-line ballots prevent the public from any meaningful opportunity to challenge an incumbent elected official. Clean Water Action supports ending party-line ballot design. Improving the Redistricting Process While our state does not leave redistricting up to elected legislators, it still hands the power of drawing our districts to commissioners handpicked by the leadership of the two major parties. This privileges incumbents and party leaders over ordinary residents. To make matters worse, the legislature approved a ballot measure (SCR123/ACR188) that delays redistricting this year, and any future census year when census data is delayed, thus allowing incumbents to run in districts drawn by census data from over ten years ago. When party leaders draw maps to protect existing elected officials, the public and communities of interest are less able to influence their elected officials. Clean Water Action supports efforts to reform our redistricting process to have a nonpartisan, rather than bipartisan, redistricting commission that draws maps in such a way as to preserve communities of interest and removes party leaders from the process. Clean Water Action | 2020-21 NJ Legislative Scorecard 6
Champions and Significant Retirements,
Who Will Step Up?
A Salute to Retiring Environmental Champions:
In winter 2021, two champions of the environment are retiring from the New Jersey State Senate: Loretta
Weinberg (D-Bergen) and Kip Bateman (R-Somerset). Although representing different sides of the aisle,
both have been longtime leaders on clean energy and the environment, and neither has been afraid to
buck party leadership when the environmental cause was just. Moving forward, Clean Water Action will
miss both legislators, but now the search is on to find the next team of environmental champions to
carry the baton.
Senator Loretta Weinberg has been a progressive leader throughout her political
career and has not been afraid to take on bullies from Governor Christie to corrupt
party bosses. She is a longtime advocate for environmental justice and championed
the recently passed Environmental Justice Law. She has called for a moratorium on
all new fossil fuel projects and fought alongside local activists to defeat the proposed
Meadowlands gas plant. She continues to lead the charge to overhaul and reform NJ
Transit to ensure New Jersey has a reliable and affordable mass transit system for
years to come. Her progressive voice in leadership will be missed.
Senator Kip Bateman has been a consistent voice in the fight against climate
change and is the current standard-bearer for New Jersey’s long tradition of
environmental bipartisanship. He has opposed both the PennEast and NESE gas
pipelines and co-sponsored legislation to push New Jersey to achieve 100% green
energy by 2035. With his retirement, it becomes difficult to find any remaining
environmental leaders in New Jersey’s Republican ranks which is a shame as our
state was once known as a place where the two parties worked together to solve
environmental crises.
With the retirement of these two senators, we will need more legislators to stand up and fight for clean
air, clean water, and our climate future. Our current “heroes” list has some familiar champions and some
emerging leaders. Ideally, this list would be a majority of the legislature. We look forward to adding more
names, from both sides of the aisle, in our next scorecard.
Clean Water Action | 2020-21 NJ Legislative Scorecard 7
Current Heroes: It’s easy to evaluate legislators just on how they voted, but it isn’t very informative. What legislators do behind the scenes before the final floor vote is harder to measure, but these efforts determine the strength of the bill or even whether a bill gets a final floor vote at all. The following legislators went the extra mile to move pro-environment bills forward this term, and they deserve special recognition for their efforts. SENATE Troy Singleton (D-7) led the way on environmental Bob Smith (D-17) is the environmental nerve center of and climate justice this term. He personally willed the the Senate with his fingerprints all over the passage of Environmental Justice Law across the finish line, was the Electric Vehicle Law, Food Waste Law, Bag Ban Law, the prime sponsor of the Lead Service Line Replacement Offshore Wind Law, Grid Scale Solar Law, and Dual Use Law, and is the legislative leader of the Clean Energy Solar Law. He is currently driving the Recycled Content Equity bill. Bill to the finish line. Linda Greenstein (D-14) is the prime sponsor of Richard Codey (D-27) pushes pro-environment bills the Green Amendment and the Measuring Climate as a member of the Senate Environment Committee Impacts Law and used her influence as chair of a using his experience as a former governor and Senate special committee to help pass the Lead Service Line President. Replacement Law. Teresa Ruiz (D-29) smartly leveraged her yes vote on Shirley Turner (D-15) played a key role in the seven year the Food Waste Law to protect her community and help campaign that just succeeded in stopping the PennEast secure passage of the Environmental Justice Law. She is frack gas pipeline along the Delaware River. She also also a leading opponent of proposed polluting frack gas serves her constituents fighting for better mass transit and sludge facilities in Newark. and playgrounds and ballfields without toxic pesticides. Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Coughlin also deserve recognition for overseeing bicameral passage of eleven significant pro-environmental laws over the past two years. ASSEMBLY Dan Benson (D-14) is a perennial champ who helped He is the prime sponsor of the Green Constitutional drive the Electric Vehicle Law to victory. He uses his Amendment and a key member of the Budget Committee leverage as a member of the crucial Budget Committee supporting funding mass transit and clean energy. and as Chair of the Transportation and Utilities Mila Jasey (D-27) is a key advocate against fossil fuels Committee to fight for strong environmental legislation. and supports a moratorium on fossil fuel projects. She Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-15) is a leading voice for also is an advocate for fully funding NJ Transit and the fully funding the Clean Energy Fund and NJ Transit, Clean Energy Fund. opposes all new proposed fossil fuel projects, and is Raj Mukherji (D-33) is a longtime outspoken leader fighting to divest state pension funds from fossil fuels. against proposed fossil fuel projects like the NJ Transit Andrew Zwicker (D-16) was the prime sponsor of the frack gas power plant and the now defeated North Accurately Measure Climate Impacts Law, has fought to Bergen Meadowlands frack gas power plant. He is an stop raids of the Clean Energy Fund and NJ Transit, and, advocate for a moratorium on all new fossil fuel projects. as chair of the Science and Innovation Committee, is Britnee Timberlake (D-34) is the prime sponsor of the advancing wind, solar, and battery storage technology. Environmental Justice Law and the leading legislator Robert Karabinchak (D-18) was a prime sponsor of the against the Garden State Parkway expansion into Grid Scale Solar Law and the inaugural chairman of developed urban areas. the Special Committee on Infrastructure and Natural Shavonda Sumter (D-35) is one of the few legislators Resources where he shepherded the Lead Service Line who supports “ending the line,” a democratic reform Inventory Law to the Assembly floor. to allow the public to hold their elected officials James Kennedy (D-22) is the lead sponsor of the Electric more accountable. She is a leader in the fight to stop Vehicles Law, Food Waste Law, and Bag Ban Law, and lead poisoning and pass the Green Constitutional the new chair of the Assembly Environment and Solid Amendment. Waste Committee. Clinton Calabrese (D-36) isn’t afraid to take on powerful John McKeon (D-27) is the Assembly’s go-to guy for polluting interests as evidenced by his successful all things environment, was the prime sponsor of and effort to stop the Meadowlands frack gas power plant leading advocate for the Environmental Justice Law. proposed in North Bergen. Clean Water Action | 2020-21 NJ Legislative Scorecard 8
Conclusion New Jersey, once a national model of bipartisan environmental leadership, had lost its way in recent years. However, with the flurry of environmental legislation passed since the 2019 Scorecard was released, people are finally seeing our state regain its green swagger. Positioning New Jersey as a national leader in clean energy and electric transportation not only helps fight the climate crisis, but also means cleaner air and and economic growth. Replacing lead service lines means generations of healthier kids in the long and short term as well as job creation right now. The recent burst of legislative action to protect New Jersey’s air and water ensures healthier communities and families AND creates sustainable jobs. But there is still a long way to go. Years of disinvestment in environmental priorities from clean energy to water infrastructure to mass transit have left New Jersey playing catch up. The recent passage of landmark laws to protect environmental justice communities and clean up plastic waste are a great step, but we now need strong rules and implementation to make their intent real. There are still many challenges looming ahead as the intertwining racial, democratic, public health, and climate crises continue to challenge the Garden State. Will New Jersey’s elected officials continue on this trajectory of passing meaningful pro-environment legislation, or will the anti-democratic trends and traditions of New Jersey politics once again slow down environmental progress? It is important to celebrate the legislative achievements of this session, while also calling upon the legislature to press forward and keep our state at the forefront of protecting our residents’ health and fighting the climate crisis. The legislature must get the Clean Energy Equity Bill, the Green Constitutional Amendment, and the Recycled Content Bill across the finish line in short order. The state needs to fully fund efforts to move us to a green energy economy. Let’s further solidify the pro-democracy changes our state made in response to the pandemic by making it even easier for residents to participate in the democratic process. We need a larger and larger share of our legislature to become environmental heroes. Let’s get to work. Clean Water Action | 2020-21 NJ Legislative Scorecard 9
How Did Your New Jersey Legislator Vote?
What We Scored: The Top 16 Environmental Bills in 2020-21
1. Electric Vehicles Law existing polluting facilities. It also supports robust public
(S2252/A4819): Sets input in any hearings regarding these permits to allow
ambitious goals for moving community members to more easily have their voices
New Jersey to a clean heard. (YES vote is pro-environment)
transportation sector
6. Bag Ban Law (S864/
and establishes a rebate
A1978): bill will prohibit all
program (up to $5,000) for the
stores and restaurants from
purchase of light-duty plug-in electric vehicles as well as
giving out or selling single-
an incentive program for the purchase and installation
use plastic bags and grocery
of in-home electric vehicle charging equipment. It also
stores from giving out or
requires at least 10% of NJ Transit new bus purchases to
selling single-use paper
be zero emissions after 2024, 50% after 2026, and 100%
bags. It also prohibits the use of polystyrene foam food
after 2032. (passed at the end of the 2018-19 session;
service products and limits the distribution of single-use
YES vote is pro-environment)
disposable plastic straws. This will reduce New Jersey’s
2. Measuring Climate Impacts Law (S3215/A4606): generation of single-use disposable waste and help to
requires the state to use a 20-year time horizon when reduce litter and plastic pollution in waterways.
calculating global warming potential to measure the (YES vote is pro-environment)
impact of greenhouse gases. (passed at the end of the
7. Green Constitutional Amendment (SCR30/ACR80):
2018-19 session; YES vote is pro-environment)
would amend the New Jersey Constitution to provide
3. Food Waste Law (S865/A2371): requires certain large- that every person has a right to a clean and healthy
scale generators of food waste to source separate this environment and gives common ownership of New
food waste from other solid waste and send that food Jersey’s public natural resources to the people of New
waste to an authorized food waste recycling facility. This Jersey with the State serving as trustee. It also requires
will prevent tons of food waste from being disposed of the State to consider the effect of any proposed action on
in landfills and incinerators as well as incentivize the the environment before taking that action and to make a
expansion of a food waste recycling economy in New reasonable effort to address the action’s environmental
Jersey. (YES vote is pro-environment) effects. (Co-sponsorship is pro-environment)
4. Redistricting Constitutional Amendment (SCR123/ 8. Corporation Business Tax (S2934/A4721): restores the
ACR188): created a referendum asking voters to approve corporation business tax (CBT) surtax at a rate of 2.5%
of a constitutional amendment that would automatically ensuring that large corporations pay their fair share. The
delay the creation of new districts following a census CBT is a funding mechanism for dedicated environmental
year if the census data was received by the state any later funds and programs. (YES vote is pro-environment)
than February 15th. This would allow legislators to run in
9. Millionaires Tax (S2949/A10): increases the gross
districts with outdated census data for an extra term. We
income tax rate on taxpayers with a gross income
oppose creating a permanent constitutional change that
exceeding $1,000,000. This is a responsible, revenue-
delays accurate representation of the people in response
raising move at a time when many programs in NJ,
to a once in a lifetime crisis. (NO vote is pro-environment)
including many environmental programs, face budget
5. Environmental Justice Law cuts. (YES vote is pro-environment)
(S232/A22120): requires
10. Clean Energy Equity Bill (S2484/A4185) focuses state
the DEP to evaluate the
efforts on the equitable deployment of clean energy,
environmental and public
energy efficiency, and energy storage programs and
health stressors of certain
technologies in overburdened communities. It will
facilities on overburdened
bring equitable and tangible benefits to low income
communities when
and overburdened communities at the household and
reviewing certain permit applications. The bill would
community level including clean energy asset ownership,
require the DEP to deny a permit to a new polluting
energy cost savings, employment, and economic
facility that would increase the disproportionate
opportunities. (Senate only; YES vote is pro-environment)
negative environmental and public health impacts
on an overburdened community and would allow the continued on next page
DEP to apply conditions to the approval of permits for
Clean Water Action | 2020-21 NJ Legislative Scorecard 10continued from previous page
11. Corporate Welfare Act of 2020 (S3295/A4): approved 15. Dual Use Solar Law
more than $14 billion dollars of corporate tax breaks (S3484/A5434): establishes
while critical programs like the Clean Energy Fund a dual-use solar energy
remain underfunded. Despite being hundreds of pages program allowing farmers
long, it was introduced and passed in less than a week to build solar generation
with no time for meaningful public or even legislative projects on unpreserved
scrutiny. (NO vote is pro-environment) farmland. This helps the
farmers extract financial value from farmland that
12. Lead Service Line
may otherwise be lost to permanent new development
Replacement Law (S3398/
while still allowing agricultural use of the land and also
A5343): requires public
increasing solar generation in New Jersey.
community water systems
(YES vote is pro-environment)
to inventory and replace
dangerous lead service 16. Recycled Content Bill
lines across the state within (S2515/A4676): establishes
ten years and provides a fair funding mechanism by post-consumer recycled
spreading the cost across all water consumers within the content requirements for
water system. (YES vote is pro-environment) rigid plastic containers, glass
containers, paper and plastic
13. Offshore Wind Law (S3926/A5894): prevents local
carryout bags, and plastic
municipalities from blocking the development of off-
trash bags. Increasing recycled content requirements
shore wind and the accompanying power transmission
helps to create a market for recyclables. (Senate only, YES
lines. (YES vote is pro-environment)
vote is pro-environment)
14. Grid Scale Solar Law (S2605/A4554): establishes a
new solar renewable energy certificate program, with
the goal of incentivizing the development of at least 3.75
gigawatts of new solar energy by 2026. The financial
incentives will be available to large scale solar projects
as well as community solar projects. (YES vote is pro-
environment)
Clean Water Action | 2020-21 NJ Legislative Scorecard 11Clean Water Action 2020–21 NJ Legislative Scorecard • Senate
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NAME Dist. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
Testa R1 – + – + – – – – – – – + – – + –
Brown, CA R2 + + – + nv + – – – + – + + nv + +
Sweeney D3 + + + – + + – + + + – + + + + +
Madden, Jr. D4 + + + – + + + + + + – + + nv nv nv
Cruz-Perez D5 + + + – + + + + + + – + + + + nv
Beach D6 + + + – + + – + + + – + nv + + +
Singleton D7 + + + – + + – nv + + – + + + + nv
Addiego D8 + + + – + nv + – + + – + + + + +
Connors R9 – nv – + – – – – – – – + – – + –
Holzapfel R 10 – nv – + – nv – nv nv nv – + – – + –
Gopal D 11 + + – – + + + – + + – + nv + + +
Thompson R 12 – + – + – – – – – – – + – – + –
O’Scanlon R 13 – + – + – – – – – – – + – – + –
Greenstein D 14 + + + – + + + + + + – + + + + +
Turner D 15 + + + – + + + + + + – + + nv + nv
Bateman R 16 + + + + – + + – – + – + + + + +
Smith D 17 + + + – + + – + + + – + + + + +
Diegnan D 18 + + + – + + + + + + – + + + + +
Vitale D 19 + + + – + + + + + nv – + + + + +
Cryan D 20 + + + – + + – + + + – + + + + +
Kean, Jr. R 21 + + – + – – + – – – – + – – + –
Scutari D 22 + + + – + + – + + + – + + + + +
Doherty R 23 – – – + – – – – – – + + – – nv –
Oroho R 24 – nv – + – – – – – – – + – – nv –
Bucco Jr. R 25 – nv – + – – – – – – – + – – + –
Pennacchio R 26 – nv – + – – – – – – – + – – + –
Codey D 27 + + + – + + + + + + – + + + + +
Rice D 28 – nv + – + + + + + + – + + + + +
Ruiz D 29 + + + – + + + + + + – + + + + +
Singer R 30 + – – + – – + – – + – + – – + –
Cunningham D 31 + nv + – + + + + + + – + + + + +
Sacco D 32 nv + – – nv – – + + + – + + + + +
Stack D 33 + + + – nv + – + + + – + + + + +
Gill, Esq. D 34 + + nv – nv + + + + + nv + + + + +
Pou D 35 + + + – + + – – + + – + + + + +
Sarlo D 36 + + – – nv + – + + + – + + + + –
Weinberg D 37 + + + – + + + + + + – + + + + +
Lagana D 38 + + + – + + + – + + – + + + + +
Schepisi* R 39 nv* +* –* +* –* –* + –* –* nv +* + – nv nv –
Corrado R 40 – nv – + – – – – – + – + – – + –
*Votes from Holly Schepisi on same bill while serving in the Assembly.
KEY
+ = PRO-Environment Vote – = Anti-Environment Vote nv = Legislator means legislator did not cast a vote
Clean Water Action | 2020-21 NJ Legislative Scorecard 12Clean Water Action 2020–21 NJ Legislative Scorecard • Assembly
Replace
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vice Line
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Impacts
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Wind
Solar
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Party/
NAME Dist. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
McClellan R1 nv nv – + – – – – – – + – + +
Simonsen R1 nv nv – + – – – – – + + nv nv nv
Armato D2 + + + – + + + – + – + + + +
Mazzeo D2 + + + – + + + – + – + + + +
Burzichelli D3 + + + – + + – + + – + + + +
Taliaferro D3 + + + – + + – + + – + nv nv nv
Mosquera D4 + + + – nv + + + + – nv nv nv nv
Moriarty D4 + + nv – + nv – nv + – + + + +
Spearman D5 + + + – + + + + + – + + + +
Moen D5 + – + + + + + – + + + +
Greenwald D6 + + + – + + – + + – + + + +
Lampitt D6 + + + – + + – + + – + + + +
Murphy D7 + + + – + + + + + – + + + +
Conaway, Jr. D7 + nv + – + + – + + – + + + +
Peters R8 + + – + – nv – nv nv + + – + +
Stanfield R8 nv nv – + – – + – – – + – + +
Gove R9 – – – + – – – – – – + – – +
Rumpf R9 – – – + – – – – – – + – – +
McGuckin R 10 – nv – + – – – – – + + – – +
Catalano R 10 nv nv – nv – – – – – + + – – +
Downey D 11 + + + – + + + – + – + + + +
Houghtaling D 11 + + + – + + + – + – + + + +
Clifton R 12 + + – + – – + – – – + – + +
Dancer R 12 + + – + – – – – – – + nv nv nv
Dimaso R 13 + + – – – – – – – + + – – +
Scharfenberger R 13 nv nv – + – – – – – + + – – +
Benson D 14 + + + – + + + + + – + + + +
DeAngelo D 14 + + nv – + – – + + – + + + +
Reynolds-Jackson D 15 + + + – + + + + + – + + + +
Verrelli D 15 + + + – + + + + + – + + + +
Zwicker D 16 + + + – + + + + + – + + + +
Freiman D 16 + + + – + + + – + – + + + +
Danielsen D 17 + + + – + + + + + – + + + +
Egan D 17 + + + – + + – + + – + + + +
Stanley D 18 nv nv nv nv nv nv nv nv nv nv + + + +
Karabinchak D 18 + + + – + + + + + – + + + +
Lopez D 19 + + + – + + + + + – + + + +
Coughlin D 19 + + + – + + – + + – + + + +
Quijano D 20 + + + – + + – + + – + nv nv nv
Holley D 20 + + – – nv + + + + – + + + +
KEY
+ = PRO-Environment Vote – = Anti-Environment Vote nv = Legislator means legislator did not cast a vote
Clean Water Action | 2020-21 NJ Legislative Scorecard 13Clean Water Action 2020–21 NJ Legislative Scorecard • Assembly
Replace
e Act
dmt
nt
ting Amn
e Welfar
vice Line
mendme
hicleS
Impacts
ires Tax
le Solar
Wind
Solar
e Tax
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ce
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s
Electric V
Env. Justi
Dual Use
Corporat
Corporat
Food Wa
Offshore
Lead Ser
Redistric
Grid Sca
Milliona
Green A
Bag Ban
Climate
Party/
NAME Dist. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Bramnick R 21 + + – + – – – – – – + – – +
Munoz R 21 + + – + – – – – – – + – – +
Kennedy D 22 + + + – + + + + + – + + + +
Carter D 22 + + + – – + + + + – + + + +
DiMaio R 23 – – – + – – – – – + + – – +
Peterson R 23 – – – + – – – – – + + – – –
Wirths R 24 – – – + – – – – – – + – – –
Space R 24 – – – nv – – – – – – – – – –
Dunn R 25 + + – + – – + – – – + – – –
Bergen R 25 nv nv – + – – – – – + + – – +
DeCroce R 26 nv + – + – – – – – – + – – +
Webber R 26 – – – + – – – – – + – – – –
Jasey D 27 + + + – + + + + + – + + + +
McKeon D 27 + + + – + + + + + – + + + +
Caputo D 28 + + + – + + + + + nv + + + +
Tucker D 28 + + + – + + + + + – + + + +
Speight D 29 + + + – + + + + + – + + + +
Pintor Marin D 29 + + + – + + – + + – + + + +
Kean R 30 + + – + – – + – – – + – + –
Thomson R 30 + + – + – – – – – – + – + +
McKnight D 31 + + + – + + + + + – + + + +
Chiaravalloti D 31 + + + – + + – + + – + + + +
Mejia D 32 + + + – + – + + + – + + + +
Jimenez D 32 + + + – + – – + + – + + + +
Chaparro D 33 + + + nv + + + + + – + + + +
Mukherji D 33 + + + – + + + + + – + + + +
Timberlake D 34 + + + – + + + + + – + + + +
Giblin D 34 + + + – + – + + + – + + + +
Sumter D 35 + + + – + + + + + – + + + +
Wimberly D 35 + + + – + + + + + – + + + +
Calabrese D 36 + + + – + + + – + – + + + +
Schaer D 36 + + + – + + – + + – + + + +
Johnson D 37 + nv + – + + + + + – + + + +
Vainieri Huttle D 37 + + + – + + + – + – + + + nv
Swain D 38 + + + – + + + – + – + + + +
Tully D 38 + + + – + + + – + – + + + +
DeFuccio R 39 nv nv nv nv nv nv nv nv nv nv + – – +
Auth R 39 – – – + – – – – – – + – – +
DePhillips R 40 + + – + – – + – – – + – + +
Rooney R 40 + + – + – – + – – – + – + +
KEY
+ = PRO-Environment Vote – = Anti-Environment Vote nv = Legislator means legislator did not cast a vote
Clean Water Action | 2020-21 NJ Legislative Scorecard 14Legislative Status of Scored Bills
Bill # Floor Vote Date Vote Tally Status Governor Action
S2252 1/13/20 27-12
1. Electric Vehicles Law PASSED Signed into law
A4819 1/13/20 65-9-0
2. Measuring Climate Impacts S3215 6/20/19 30-2
PASSED Signed into law
Law A4606 12/16/19 65-8-2
S865 3/5/20 22-17
3. Food Waste Law PASSED Signed into law
A2371 2/24/20 49-28-1
4. Redistricting Constitutional SCR123 7/30/20 25-15 Approved by
PASSED
Amendment ACR188 7/30/20 51-26-0 voters
S232 6/29/20 22-14
5. Environmental Justice Law PASSED Signed into law
A2212 8/27/20 49-28-1
S864 3/5/20 22-14
6. Bag Ban Law PASSED Signed into law
A1978 9/24/20 47-24-7
7. Green Constitutional SCR30 tbd tbd Stuck in Environment
Amendment ACR80 tbd tbd Stuck in Agriculture
S2934 9/24/20 21-17
8. Corporation Business Tax PASSED Signed into law
A4721 9/24/20 42-35-1
S2949 9/24/20 25-14
9. Millionaires Tax PASSED Signed into law
A10 9/24/20 52-27-0
S2484 11/16/20 28-10 PASSED
10. Clean Energy Equity Bill
A4185 tbd tbd Stuck in Utilities
S3295 12/21/20 38-1
11. Corporate Welfare Act of 2020 PASSED Signed into law
A4 12/21/20 68-11-0
12. Lead Service Line S3398 6/21/21 40-0
PASSED Signed into law
Replacement Law A5343 3/25/21 71-0-2
S3926 6/24/21 25-13
13. Offshore Wind Law PASSED Signed into law
A5894 6/24/21 49-26-0
S2605 6/21/21 24-12
14. Grid Scale Solar Law PASSED Signed into law
A4554 6/24/21 57-16-2
S3484 6/30/21 36-0
15. Dual Use Solar Law PASSED Signed into law
A5434 6/24/21 68-4-2
S2515 6/24/21 22-14 PASSED
16. Recycled Content Bill
A4676 tbd tbd Pending in Environment
In the Vote Tally Column, first number are Yes’s, second are No’s, and third number (if displayed) represents abstentions.
In the Status Column, red highlight indicates anti-environment action. Stuck indicates that it is being prevented from advancing out of committee.
Pending indicates movement is anticipated with possible amendments. Passed indicates that it was voted on the floor of Senate, Assembly or both.
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